Tips to keep Mold at bay in the bathroom

8/23/2016 (Permalink)

The Key to Mold Control is Moisture Control!

Let’s face it, when it comes to parts of our homes we wish we didn’t have to think much about, the bathroom would probably top that list. For most of us, the bathroom is the one part of the house that we want to get away from, just as quickly as we entered. And as a cleaning and restoration company who often finds ourselves entering into some pretty serious bathroom maintenance concerns, we’ve found that mold damage is one of the worst issues to face.  That’s why we wanted to share some worthwhile information with you (the reader!) so that the next time you’re cleaning your home or doing various housekeeping chores, you can have some helpful pointers in mind for keeping mold growth at bay in your bathroom.

“Bathrooms are common places to find mold because heat and moisture accumulate on a regular basis, and this happens to be the perfect environment that mold needs to grow.” Some common reasons why mold growth is found especially in the bathroom are due to:

• Lack of air circulation and ventilation that traps moisture after bathing
• Leaky toilets, sinks or pipes
• Improper installation of bathtub pan or shower building materials
• Other damp organic materials such as rugs, paper products, wood, wallpaper, drywall, etc…

There are several different methods you can follow to prevent mold growth.

• Make sure you have a bathroom fan that works and is the right size in relation to the size of your bathroom
• If you don’t have a bathroom fan or window, take some time to dry the wet surfaces (walls, mirror, and ceiling) with a towel after your shower. Squeegee your shower walls to get rid of extra moisture.
• Seal the grout in your tile annually to ensure its water proof. Repair or replace damaged grout and caulk.
• Leave bathroom windows and doors open after your shower to let all the steam out. We recommend doing this for at least a half hour after bathing.
• Clean the bathroom with eco-friendly mold-preventing cleaners like Concrobium or Sporicidin. Also, general household cleaning solutions with bleach can be a great way to lessen the likelihood for mold to growth on dust, dirt and buildup on surfaces.
• If you’re going out of town, don’t just turn your thermostat off. Keep it at 74 or below to prevent a mold fest.
• Check your sinks for leaks.
• Spread the shower curtain back out after your shower to prevent mold from growing in the folds.
• Clean the bathroom regularly, at least once a week. Don’t forget easy-to-miss places like the shower walls. Wash your cloth shower curtain and rug too!
• Call SERVPRO of Crescenta Valley / East Glendale for additional tips and tricks for what to do (and NOT DO) if you have found mold growing in your bathroom.

(Shout out to http://howtobuildit.org/2013/08/13/how-to-avoid-bathroom-mold/ for helping contribute to some of these great ideas.)